Arsenal
A gala night – and performance – in one of the citadels of soccer. Mikel Arteta’s team refused to let the occasion, the Bernabéu and talk of aremontadaconstantly uttered as a mantra in the build-up distract them. The Gunners retained their unbeaten record against the competition’s near-eternal champions and did not allow themselves to be waylaid by any hoopla, or confused officiating that led to a “ghost” penalty eventually wiped by the video assistant. Perhaps Bukayo Saka’s Panenka malfunction reflected an overconfidence but Arsenal won the individual battles all over the Bernabeu pitch soon reducing their galactic opposition to one-dimensional football. All achieved with a callow defence featuring Jurrien Timber, Jakub Kiwior and teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly, with Mikel Merrno as emergency striker. Saka’s goal was so coolly taken, as was Gabriel Martinelli’s late finish, on a night Arsenal fans will remember for decades.
Paris Saint-Germain
The last four includes two clubs still yet to win the trophy. PSG now carry the burden of being favorites. They had to ride out a storm at Aston Villa, a night when it was defenders’ – and the goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma’s – chance to shine. It was two defenders that had already taken the game just beyond Villa’s reach with the incision of Achraf Hakimi’s and Nuno Mendes’ finishing, sweeping attacks fully taking “advantages of spaces” in the words of their coach. “I think I have the best squad in the world, not only the goalkeeper,” said Luis Enrique. Here comes the point when PSG’s players must live with the expectation, something the club’s galaxy of stars down the years has previously failed to do. Then again, the same goes for Arsenal in theChampions League. The two meet in the semis.
Inter
Where the other three semi-finalists are flush with youth and pace, Simone Inzaghi’s Inter are a model of experience and guile.Bayern Munichthrew the kitchen sink at the San Siro, becoming the first team to score twice against Inter in the competition. In seeing out a 2-2 draw, Yann Sommer, a keeper who played less than half a season for Bayern, was outstanding, was unable to stop two Englishmen in Harry Kane and Eric Dier scoring but made some vital late interventions. Lautaro Martinez, Inter’s talisman, poached his fifth goal in five matches before Benjamin Pavard scored against his former club. His previous Champions League goal had been scored for Bayern against Inter in November 2022. Inter’s appointment with Barcelona in the semis brings back memories of 2010, and Jose Mourinho’s infamous heist on Pep Guardiola’s team, where canny defending cut down flowing attack. More of the same to follow?
Real Madrid
The fall-out from their 5-1 aggregate defeat is likely to be dramatic. Carlo Ancelotti, the Champions League’s most successful manager, appears guaranteed to depart, perhaps even to coach the Brazilian national team. He will leave behind a club off its moorings, repeating the mistakes of the past in looking to stars rather than systems to deliver success. Too many egos have landed. Kylian Mbappé, even before he limped off, repeated his struggles, at constant cross-purposes with Vincius Junior. As for Jude Bellingham, another night when UK TV audiences wonder what all the hype has been about, repeatedly beaten to the punch by Declan Rice, lost amid a team that can no longer play off the cuff to get out of trouble. Toni Kroos has been sorely missed this season and Luka Modrić, the late sub, is 40 in September. Xabi Alonso is the coach heavily linked with the job Ancelotti will vacate. If he goes back on his promise to stay at Bayer Leverusen, he immediately requires a midfielder of the same class he was as a player.
Aston Villa
When Black Sabbath sign off for their final concert at Villa Park this summer they will struggle to match the decibel levels that came from the venerable stadium in a frantic second half. Villa came so close, Emery’s personal agonies best reflected by his hood falling over his face as he prostrated himself in agony at Ezri Konsa’s miss. These are the European nights Villa fans dreamed of when languishing in the Championship. Perhaps Emery’s tactics asked too much of his defence when taking the game to PSG over both legs but Europe has been a wild ride this season. The question is whether Villa can return by finishing fifth in the Premier League.
Bayern Munich
The header from Inter’s Pavard that did for Bayern was the type Vincent Kompany once trademarked as a player. Kim Min-jae has been scapegoated for that decisive goal by German media but Kompany has leapt to the Korean’s defence. Bild, the tabloid, gave Kim a lowly 6 rating – a fail, essentially. ”We trust him,” said Kompany of the Korean, playing through pain and hardly alone in his team’s failure to defend set pieces. Neither was he guilty of the loose finishing of Bayern’s late, failed chase for an equaliser. “It’s hard to take,” said Kane, again exiting a competition repeatedly cruel to him. “We couldn’t have asked for better content in the game,” said Kompany, somewhat confusingly.
Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG)
In the heavyweight battle over who is the best goalkeeper in the world, Donnarumma won his eliminator with Villa’s Emi Martinez on points, though the judging was likely unanimous. While the Argentinian’s weak hand pushed Bradley Barcola’s pass into Achraf Hakimi’s path for PSG’s opener, the Italian made a series of saves while Villa battled back with three quick goals. He denied Marcos Asensio, on loan from PSG, with a one-on-one. Then came a desperate claw of a Youri Tielemans header that seemed goal-bound. Martinez made his own saves, as PSG sought to kill the tie but the giant Italian won their face-off. “In order to win the Champions League, you need a great goalkeeper, and he proved his worth today,” said Marquinhos, his captain.
Declan Rice (Arsenal)
To follow his two free-kick goals in the first leg, the finest all-round performance of the midfielder’s career, repeatedly breaking up Real Madrid attacks in those rare moments when Arsenal wobbled, also setting up the counterattacks that ended the holders’ reign. An all-action display put England team-mate Bellingham fully in the shade, the fulcrum of one of his club’s best ever nights in European football. “We had a belief and confidence that we’d win the game,” he said in his post-match flash interview. Nobody embodied that more. He is maturing into one of Europe’s best midfielders. Madrid had nobody at his level.
Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund)
The striker’s hat-trick provided consolation in the aftermath of Dortmund exiting at the hands of Barcelona. He is likely to provide a revenue stream in the form a £64m release clause in lieu of playing in next season’s competition; Dortmund remain eighth in the Bundesliga. Briefly in Westphalia it seemed Dortmund could stage one of the great comebacks, a throwback to the Jurgen Klopp era, but Barcelona eventually cooled the waters. “We playedour best game since I’ve been here,” said Niko Kovač, pride restored. “I’m happy to have scored, but it’s a shame that our run is over now,” said Guirassy.